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Song of the Day #6,612a: ‘Put Your Records On’ – Corinne Bailey Rae

Continuing my look at the albums of 2006…

It turns out the perfect antidote to yesterday’s Joanna Newsom experience was Corinne Bailey Rae’s self-titled debut. This collection of soulful pop is the opposite of critic bait — it’s music to water your plants to on a lazy Sunday morning.

English singer-songwriter Bailey Rae started as an indie rock performer before shifting to R&B and neo-soul. This album, buoyed by lead single ‘Like a Star,’ debuted at #1 in the UK, making her just the fourth British woman to achieve that feat with a first album.

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Song of the Day #6,612: ‘Monkey & Bear’ – Joanna Newsom

Continuing my look at the albums of 2006…

Sometimes I have to throw up my arms and admit that I just don’t get something. Sometimes the critics call an album the best of the year and one of the best of all-time and I can barely make it through even once.

That’s the case with Joanna Newsom’s Ys, the sophomore release by the chamber folk artist. Reading the effusive praise for this album, I can’t help but wonder if it’s all an elaborate prank.

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Song of the Day #6,611a: ‘Crazy’ – Gnarls Barkley

Continuing my look at the albums of 2006…

The blog recently featured some discussion about what constitutes a “supergroup”, with one contention being that the collaboration must include more than two people. By that definition, Gnarls Barkley isn’t a supergroup, but it sure put out some super music.

Producer Danger Mouse and Goodie Mob member CeeLo Green created the Gnarls Barkley persona as a lark, giving the character an elaborate and humorous backstory. That sense of humor is evident on their debut album St. Elsewhere, but it doesn’t get in the way of the music sounding great.

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Song of the Day #6,611: ‘Sunny’ – Bobby Hebb

The Lovin’ Spoonful held on to the top spot of Billboard’s Top 100 the week of August 23, 1966, for the third and final week, with ‘Summer in the City.’

At #2 that week was Bobby Hebb’s ‘Sunny,’ which peaked in that spot for two weeks. This track, written by Hebbs after the death of his brother in 1963, became an international hit for him and his only song to crack the Billboard Top 20.

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Song of the Day #6,610a: ‘Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)’ – Doris Day

Throwing back to the week of August 22, 1956, we find The Platters’ ‘My Prayer‘ hanging on to the top spot of the Billboard singles chart.

Tied for #2, where it would surprisingly peak on the Top 100, was Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog.’ ‘Hound Dog‘ would top the ‘Best Sellers in Stores’ chart for a then-record 11 weeks, but it was outperformed by Presley’s ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ on the Top 100, which accounted for radio and jukebox play in addition to sales.

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